SHAH ALAM, 16 Dec: The State Government is working to find the best way to be given the right to handle the funds of the Wives of Selangor State Assemblymen and Members of Parliament Welfare and Charity Organisation (Balkis) amounting to about RM10 million.

The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that as the trustee, the Selangor Women’s Welfare and Charity Organisation (PEKAWANIS) should be given the right to handle the fund.

He said that the fund should be handled responsibly to ensure that the fund is managed properly.

“We will find the best way for what should be owned by PEKAWANIS, left behind by Balkis, to be managed well.

“We can use this fund well for the purpose of welfare,” he said during a working visit to Rumah Puteri Arafiah.

In 2009, the State Government sent a letter, asking the Malaysian Insolvency Department to explain the status of the fund which belonged to Balkis.

In the letter, it was stated that if what is said by the Malaysian Insolvency Department is true, the State Government asks for the fund to be given and entrusted to the State Government for further action.

Balkis was disbanded on 11 March 2008, and according to the former President of Balkis, Zahrah Kechik, the fund had already been handed to the Minister’s Wives Charity and Welfare Organisation (Bakti).

During the working visit, Abdul Khalid allocated more provisions from the Chief Minister’s Office, amounting to RM100,000, which will be handed to Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) to be given to Rumah Puteri Arafiah.

Accompanying him was his wife, who is also the President of PWKAWANIS and the Chairman of the Rumah Puteri Arafiah Board of Directors, Puan Sri Salbiah Tunut.

Also present was the Chief Administrator of Menteri Besar Incorporated, Rohany Datuk Talib, a representative from the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS), Norita Mohd Sidek, as well as the Executive Councillor for Welfare, Rodziah Ismail.